Family cheers on Team Saskatchewan at the Scotties

The colour green seems to be well represented in the crowd at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alberta, as a number of Team Saskatchewan fans have made the trip out west.

Derick Williamson is there to support his daughter, who happens to be the team’s lead, Ashley Williamson.

“You’re always a little nervous, always excited, and you’re hoping they’re making all the shots they can make and getting a couple of the breaks that they need to get,” he described. “It’s just amazing the amount of effort they’ve put in all the way through the whole year and then once you get here it’s just a big rush. Like for my family, anyways, we’re just starting to come down from it.”

There appears to be a nice contingent of fans to support the young team. Williamson said his family and the families of the other curlers on the team all went out for supper in the northern Alberta city recently, guessing there were a few dozen Saskatchewan supporters there.

The Williamsons plan on staying and watching the team for as long as they’re in the championship tournament.

Derick said the team has meshed well all season long, with a strong chemistry between the women. He said he knew good things were bound to happen.

So far good things have happened for the young team, like winning a number of games at their first Scotties.

Williamson hopes his daughter can reach the playoffs.

“You can actually see it in each game they’re playing. They’re getting more and more confident.”

But win or lose, he knows it’s all about the experience.

“I think it’ll do nothing but help them. They just realized that they can actually throw with the best in the world I’d have say, with Canada,” he said.